One of the protesters, university student Matilda Lane-Rose, held a press conference outside WA’s state parliament two days after she was arrested, where she defended her action outside O’Neill’s home as peaceful and slammed Woodside’s gas projects as a disaster for the climate and indigenous heritage.
“In terms of her feeling threatened, I’d just like it to be known that there were over a dozen counter-terrorist police officers camped both inside and outside her property overnight,” she said.
“So I think that she was very, very protected on Tuesday, and there was no threat whatsoever posed by me, a 19-year-old carrying a bike lock.”
I’m against protests outside private residences, but given the context, the fact that her home was surrounded by a dozen riot police inside and outside the property, and there is only one teenage girl with a bike protesting, speaks volumes about how our society favors the privileged few over the needs of the many.
I have nothing against protests outside private residences. I do have something against carrying a bike lock around. That’s looking to commit vandalism.
If she isn’t currently riding or locking up a bike, why does she have it? It’s like a baseball bat. Are you going to play baseball? No? Then why do you have it?
I’m sorry. Did you forget the /s?
Given the context, I think its more likely she rode her bike to the protest. Being that its a suburban home, there is probably no place to lock up the bike and since she is outside protesting the bike is within a few feet or at least eyesight the whole time. So there is no need to it up.